Our reading today is a little hard to
wrap our head around in our modern politically correct world. We look back on
what the Nazi’s of Germany did to people, especially Jews, and consider that
horrible. We think of the genocide of Rwanda and we get angry at the taking of
innocent lives. And then we read passages such as today’s we struggle to
understand why God would order something so devastating.
God ordered vengeance to be taken on
the Midianites. James E. Smith Old Testament scholar writes in his commentary
on the Pentateuch … “”Vengeance” here does not mean revenge; it is the legitimate
expression of divine authority when that authority is challenged, Israel here
was to be the tool of God’s justice.”[1] God was
seeking a holy war against this people. They had tempted and lured away his
people. God knew that these Israelites were not strong enough to stand against
sin, so he had to eradicate it from their lives. He could not just punish them;
he had to wipe them out! I realize this is a hard pill for us to swallow … reading
about death and destruction ordered by God. It’s not easy, but God knew it was
the only way.
While it is hard to read, I think it
is an important lesson for us to learn. Whatever may take us away from complete
devotion to God must be eradicated from our lives. Jesus taught this principle
as well … “And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut if off and throw
it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
body to go into hell.” Matthew 5:30 NIV. Whatever keeps you from God must be
removed from your life, not merely ignored, but completely removed.
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[1] (Smith,
James E. Old Testament Survey Series, The Pentateuch. Joplin: College Press
Publishing Company, 1992. 466. Print.)
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